Two Old Broads: Stuff You Need to Know That You Didn’t Know You Needed to Know

Orthopedic surgeon Hecht (The Slip and Fall Prevention Handbook) and actor Goldberg (The Unqualified Hostess) reflect on how women can make the most of their later years in this cheerful manual. They offer advice on how to deal with the physical, social, and emotional consequences of growing older, weighing in on sex after 60, how to be an informed patient, and how older women can approach breaking medical news to loved ones. Noting that dates can offer a break from routine, Hecht suggests that single readers look for potential partners at social events put on by community organizations or through friends. Hecht’s sensible medical advice emphasizes keeping active, and she provides exercises to relieve aches and pains. However, it’s Hecht and Goldberg’s less scientifically rigorous thoughts that most charm, as when they encourage readers to embrace being crotchety and eccentric. The authors’ humor amuses; for example, Hecht contends that one becomes a senior “when your excretions outnumber your secretions” and recommends that those suffering from insomnia “read a book.... If it’s boring, it can be a sleep inducer.” Goldberg’s contributions are brief and slight compared to Hecht’s, but there’s enough to please her fans. The result is a humorous guide to aging. (Nov.)